Business Idea to Ease Needle Pain Wins Fourth Annual Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest

PROVIDENCE – (Dec. 9, 2009) – A Brown University student working with a team of undergraduates and faculty to create a device for the treatment of pediatric needle pain won top honors at last evening’s statewide elevator pitch contest sponsored by the Rhode Island Business Plan Competition.

The winning 90-second presentation at the fourth annual $1K Rhode Island Elevator Pitch Contest was one of 31 made to a panel of judges and a standing-room-only crowd at the RI Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Providence. Making the presentation was Adam Leonard.

Competition Co-chair Garrett Hunter, who served as master of ceremonies, congratulated all those who participated, noting, "Everyone demonstrated fortitude to be willing to present their ideas to a crowd of strangers and receive public critiques from the judges. They only gained from the experience."

The judges gave feedback to each presenter, telling them what they did well and how they could improve their presentation.

In addition to the winner, eight other presenters were awarded cash prizes. They were:

• Mohannad Arbaji, a Brown University student, presented his plan to develop the world’s first SAT prep and college advising curriculum for international students.
• Jacqueline Belknap and Jenifer DiLapi, students at Bryant University, proposed an idea to create a bakery that specializes in providing gluten-free baked goods.
• Ryan Chan, a Brown University student, spoke of creating a suite of online services that will change the way nonprofits and donors interact.
• Matt Doherty, a Brown University student, told of his idea to provide an online centralized database that will let retail customers to access, sort, and search for their receipts from purchases.
• Ellen Donahue-Dalton, of Dalton Marketing Group in East Greenwich, told about her plan to offer an online marketplace to New England companies that provide mission-based products and services.
• Erik Duhaime, a Brown University student, proposed a plan to develop a special light switch that will shut off all the lights in your house with just one flick.
• Michael Kreitzer, a Brown University student, told about his plan to develop a portable testing device to check Vitamin D levels.
• Christine West, of KITE Architects in Providence, presented a plan to develop attractive, energy efficient houses.

Serving as judges for the Elevator Pitch Contest were:

• Guy Asadorian, Co-founder, Tameracq Partners, Inc., Providence
• Jim Grace, President & CEO, InsureMyTrip.com, Warwick
• Claire Iacobucci, Director of Quality Control & Principal, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd., Providence
• Annette Tonti, CEO, MoFuse, Inc., Providence
• Rick Wilkins, Principal, Strategic Giving LLC, Providence

The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is expected to award up to $150,000 in prizes to this year’s winners. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2010. Winners will be announced May 4.

Sponsors of the 2010 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition

The Rhode Island Business Plan Competition is the leading community-supported business plan competition in the Northeast, and currently is supported by 33 sponsoring organizations that span private businesses, colleges and universities, and public and nonprofit entities.

Sponsors of the 2010 Rhode Island Business Plan Competition include: Hinckley, Allen & Snyder LLP, Kahn, Litwin, Renza & Co., Ltd., Embolden, Johnson & Wales University, and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation.

Also supporting the competition are: AM 790, Business Development Company of Rhode Island, Brown University, Bryant University, Cherrystone Angel Group, Citizens Bank, Coastway Community Bank, CVS/Caremark, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, LLP, Federal Electronics, Inc., Foresight Science and Technology, Goodwin Procter LLP, InsureMyTrip.com, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Point Judith Capital, Providence Business News, Rhode Island Medical Society, Rhode Island Commodores, Rhode Island Society of Certified Public Accountants, the RI Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Shazaam, Starkweather & Shepley, Slater Technology Fund, Tech Collective, The Mergis Group, University of Rhode Island, and Webster Bank, Ximedica.

Complete information, including rules, application procedures, guidelines, and business plan resources, is available at www.ri-bizplan.com.